Glenn Ford . . . Reincarnated

The actor Glenn Ford is remembered for being a part of countless wonderful movies including Blackboard Jungle, 3:20 to Yuma, A Pocketful of Miracles, and one of my very favorites, The Courtship of Eddie’s Father. Until recently, I had no idea of other roles Mr. Ford had played before he became an actor...even before he was born...into this life.

Born in Quebec City, Canada on May 1, 1916 as Gwyllyn Ford, the youngster and his family moved to Los Angeles when he was eight years old.

Glenn Ford started working as an assistant stage manager in film after he graduated from Santa Monica High School.

Part of his job included having to understudy several parts in case one of the actors didn’t show up. Ford realized he could be making a lot more money being the actor, and that’s what he did!

The actor enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp during WWII, and, years later, served two tours of duty in Vietnam! Ford has the distinction of being the only actor to have been with the Green Berets and the French Foreign Legion, with numerous medals and commendations to reflect his heroic wartime acts! As one would expect, Glenn Ford was always very humble about his achievements.

In 1949, Glenn Ford was full of the spirit of adventure, and climbed the highest mountain in Europe, Mont Blanc, during the filming of The White Tower.

In the mid to late 1970s, when Ford was in his late 50s and early 60s, he allowed himself to be hypnotized at his home in Beverly Hills, California, to prepare for a movie about the Dutch psychic, Peter Hurkos.

Glenn Ford actually recalled five previous lives under three past regression hypnosis sessions. In his first session, Ford relayed in detail living the life of Charlie Bill, a cowboy who lived in Colorado.

In a second study which was held at UCLA, Ford talked about teaching “young flibbertigibbets” how to play the piano. As a Scottish piano teacher, Charles Stuart, he spoke in a “quaint” manner not common in California.

Ford also played the piano a little during this session, although he allegedly did not know how to tickle the ivory keys.

The grave of Charles Stuart deceased in the year 1840 was found in Elgin, Scotland. Ford saw a photograph of the grave, and said, “That shook me up real bad. I felt immediately that it was the place I was buried.”

Speaking fluent French with a Parisian dialect from the 17th century (verified by UCLA), Ford told about his life serving under Louis XIV as a French cavalryman. Ford knew very little French, and certainly knew nothing of how to speak with a Parisian dialect from the 17th century.

Glenn Ford passed away in 2006 at the age of 90. He commented once that he preferred not knowing until the end of a movie whether he was a “villain or the hero.” It seems in this life, he would certainly be considered a hero.

I wonder what life Mr. Ford will be living next. I’m sure no matter what it is, he will be ready. As he once said, “An actor should be ready to play any role within reason.”